When you are trying to live with and intentionally connect to energy of each season, your self care will change and flux. Today we will be talking all about Winter, what our bodies crave during this time, and self care rituals to help you connect with that.
The Energy of Winter
When we think about each season, one of the best ways to understand the energy of it is by looking outside at the rest of nature. What are the plants and animals doing? What is happening with the weather? What is happening with the daylight of each day? When we look at those we can begin to understand and acknowledge the natural feelings we have inside of us as well.
In Winter, the plants have died and are beginning their cycle of freezing. Animals tend to hibernate and store body weight and build nests. The days are shorter, and at least in the Northern Hemisphere the temperature tends to get cooler. All of these are signs that we need to be resting, recharging, and restoring ourselves in these cooler months. This is the time every year that our bodies crave rest, sleep, nourishment, and introspection. All of which we need if we want to be able to tap into new and refreshed energy come Spring.
So how do we do that? This is where accepting and flowing with the seasons comes in. We lean into rest. That may mean changing your daily habits, allowing yourself more grace, and deprograming that part of your brain that is always expecting you to be constantly doing something . This is especially true come January 1st when the whole world is pressuring you to start a new diet, hit the gym, or completely restart your life. To help give you some tools to support yourself, let's look at some of our favorite Winter Self Care Practices.
Sleep Hygiene & Self Care
Winter is an incredible time to take a look at how well you are actually sleeping and if there are things in your sleep habits that are stopping you from getting fully supported rest. Look at not just how much you sleep, but when you are going to sleep, the amount of screen time you are watching before you sleep, if you can rest without having something in your system to calm your mind or body. See what is working for you, see what isn't and do some experiments over this time to see if you can find a sleep routine that makes you feel supported and rested.
Quiet Inner Reflection Time
Think of how quiet the winter is outside. Most of the birds have flown south for winter, snow muffling the sounds that still exist, but most of life is tucked away under shelter. This is the time to really work sitting in the quiet with yourself. Allow your mind to travel and begin reflecting on what has happened over the past year. Journaling and writing down these experiences can help you look and process these while prepping you to think of what you want to bring into your life this year.
Cook Nourishing Food
Whether you are someone who loves cooking, or not, Winter is an excellent time to love your body through food. During these colder months, we tend to crave warm, heavier meals - connecting us back to times when heated blankets, instant hot baths and take out soup did not exist. Our body intuitively remembers a time when gaining a few pounds to stay warm was a luxury, not something to feel shame around. Keeping this in mind, this is a great time to lean into more intuitive eating - giving your body permission to crave some of those stews, soups, roasts, potatoes and breads that can feel so nourishing. Taking the time to plan out what meals sound good, cook them from a place of love and listen to your body while eating them, is a great way to connect inward and nourish what needs some extra care.
Work With the Sun, Not Against it
With the shortest days of the year taking place in winter, it can really help us to get the most out of each day by working with the energy of the sun. While taking the time to get extra rest is vital, waking up earlier, with the sun, can make a huge impact as well. Making sure, even with the colder temps, to find a few moments each day to allow the sunshine to stream over your face. Focusing on completing your most important tasks earlier in the day, so when you feel like moving at a slower pace in the afternoon/early evening, you can do just that. The warmth and sun is part of what gives us energy, so bringing some awareness to when the sun is out and how you can best connect with it can really help you lean further into the energy of winter.
Whether you love winter or have a hard time with this season - now is the perfect time to get quiet and listen to what would make you feel more supported, loved and at peace. Learning to care for yourself is not something that just happens overnight, giving yourself grace and slowing down to hear what would make the biggest impact is the best way to start!
If you are looking for further support in your Self Care routines, check out our Year of Self Care Annual Subscription Box, offering a beautiful box for every season, with tools, resources and support in every phase of your journey of transformation.
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